A 31-year-old woman from Deer Park is facing serious felony charges for animal cruelty after she allegedly strangled, drowned, and partially consumed her family’s eight-year-old miniature poodle, Evie. This unsettling case has raised significant concern and disbelief, as detailed in the court documents.
Prosecutors have painted a disturbing picture of Ashley Pagel’s actions. In a probable cause court session, an assistant district attorney described how Pagel reportedly killed her dog before engaging in the horrific act of consuming parts of the animal. The allegations extend beyond animal cruelty, as Pagel is also accused of making alarming threats against her six-year-old son during a phone call with family members.
On April 14, during a conversation with her aunt, Pagel allegedly made outrageous claims about her son, accusing family members of harming him. She referred to her son in derogatory terms, indicating that she would be capable of killing him within five minutes. While these threats were not acted upon, the cruelty exhibited towards her pet is deeply troubling.
According to the aunt’s testimony, upon arriving at Pagel’s home, she found Evie’s lifeless body on the floor, along with evidence of the brutal acts that had taken place. Pagel reportedly placed the deceased dog in a plastic shopping bag, then onto a cookie sheet before placing it in the refrigerator, demonstrating a shocking lack of remorse.
This is not Pagel’s first brush with the law; in 2024, she was charged with injury to a child after she slapped her young son multiple times. Her probation for that charge was terminated early last March. Now, the bond for her latest animal cruelty charge has been set at $20,000, reflecting the severity of her actions.
The gravity of this case has left many in the community appalled, as it highlights serious issues surrounding animal welfare and child safety.
